'Letters To A Stranger' by Sarah Mitchell

Book Description:

England, 1940. Dearest Ruby, you must have heard the news by now. The very worst has happened. Our countries are at war. What can I do? How can I stop this nightmare from happening? One day soon we’ll be together again. I swear. I love you. E. x Present day. Ruby Summers has lived an extraordinary life. Now, at ninety-six years old and living in a quiet countryside retirement home, Ruby may be an elderly lady, but her memory remains perfect. She remembers the summer in rural Norfolk eighty years ago when she fell in love with Edmondo, and the stolen moments spent in the orchard dreaming of their future. But tears fill her green eyes when she also remembers the September morning they embraced as they listened to war being declared on the wireless. As her village turned against Edmondo and his Italian family, Ruby knew she would be forced to make an impossible choice – one that would lead to a betrayal her heart never recovered from, and an earth-shattering secret she has never shared… But when lonely Ruby decides to take part in a letter-writing scheme for the elderly, and single mother Cassie replies, she realises this could be her chance. Her last chance. By revisiting her past, can she finally share the secret that has haunted her for all these years? And will her unexpected connection with Cassie unearth truths even Ruby never knew were hidden – or will it tear both their lives apart? This totally gripping and irresistible story of wartime love and heartbreak will captivate readers who love Lorna Cook, Fiona Valpy and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Letters To A Stranger' by Sarah Mitchell.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 9th March 2023.

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that

'This totally gripping and irresistible story of wartime love and heartbreak will captivate readers who love Lorna Cook, Fiona Valpy and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.' I am a huge fan of Fiona so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 7 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in London Cambridge, Norfolk, Ipswich, Surrey and Oxford, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧 and France 🇫🇷. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times.

This book is written in first person perspective and the protagonists are Amanda Gibbons, Cassandra Ross, Ruby Summers and Austin Davy. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.

'Letters To A Stranger' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Sarah discusses/includes Covid and War.

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

What an absolutely stunning, gorgeous and unputdownable read!! This is one of the most unique books I have ever come across!!! I absolutely LOVE the fact that the whole book gives us the storyline via letters, emails, texts, postcards and newspaper articles and I have never come across a book that has done before. Sarah you have managed to weave not only multiple characters but multiple time lines together perfectly which cannot have been an easy feat at all!! The fact that one timeline was set during the war whilst the other was set during covid and although they are many years apart you can sadly see many similarities, one being how people would treat each other during them both. This was something I actually discussed myself during Covid, how it must have been similar during the was with people alienating the unvaccinated during Covid and people turning on their friends when they did exactly the same during the war to different religions, faiths and people from different areas even though they had lived in the UK for many years. This book is devastatingly heart-breaking and beautiful. It is an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions filled with heartbreak, family, love, loss, deceit secrets, friendship, war, caring, moving on, and so much more. Sarah's writing and descriptions are so evocative I really felt I was write next to both Cassie and Ruby during the present and past. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with them and going through their pain, love, struggles and suffering. While you are reading this you are going through a journey of love and loss, heartbreak, secrets, deceit, love, and forgiveness and so, so much more. It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying my phone to read it on kindle every chance that I got and I had tears absolutely streaming down my face by the time the gorgeous, heart-breaking and heart-warming ending(s) came. I was completely mind blown at the end and just when I thought I had run out of tears they started pouring out again. I absolutely loved the twist that came in several of the parts too. I was not expecting any of them so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Sarah!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me considering how many books I read but you certainly managed it!! The fact that instead of using chapters Sarah seperate the book into seven parts was also very cleverly done and I really enjoyed reading through it and jumping from one timeline to the other at just the right time.

Part One sets the storyline with Cassie moving into a caravan with her ill son Noah during Covid to keep him safe as her partner is a key worker who could bring Covid back to him. Noah is given a project by his school to write a letter to his new 'Best Friend' penpal in a care home. Cassie contacts the school to explain Noah is not in the year it is meant for and starts writing to the penpal (Ruby) instead. It is written using letters, emails, notes and texts from and to Cassie Ross, Ruby Summers, Amanda Richards (Cassie's previous neighbour and previous best friend), Stuart Rowlings (Cassie's partner), Austin Davy (owner of the caravan), Rosemary Ross (Cassie's mum) and Margaret Fleming (from Noel's school). This part is set in the year 2020 during lockdown.

Part Two takes us back to 1939 and 1940 during the war where we discover Ruby's history. It is written using letters, news articles and diary entries and tells us about Ruby's struggles with her family and her romance with an Italian during the war. We are given the story mainly through Ruby's diary entries but also from new articles and letters from Clementine Isles (Ruby's sister), Charles Whittaker (Ruby's uncle and Godfather), Helen Wodehouse (college mistress), Edmondo Brambilla (Ruby's boyfriend), Lillian Whittaker (Ruby's aunt and godmother), George Summers (Ruby's brother), Mary Cartwright (from the college) and an anonymous writer.

Part Three brings us back to 2020 with letters, emails, postcards and texts to and from Cassie, Ruby, Austin, Stuart, Rosemary and Stanley Ross (Cassie's Dad).

Part Four takes us back to 1940 where we read letters, notes, news articles and diary entries to and from Ruby, Clementine, George, Edmondo, Wilfred Ross and Helen. I

Part Five beings us back to 2020 with letters, texts and postcards from and to Cassie, Stuart, Austin, Ruby, Stanley, Rosemary and Amanda.

Part Six takes us back to 1940 with diary entries and letters from and to Ruby, Charles, Mary, Edmondo, Dr Rupert Godwin (Latin tutor) and Clementine.

Part Seven wraps the whole gorgeous storyline up and ensures the book ends with several breath-taking reveals which you will have to pick up your copy today to discover!!

Sarah has clearly done her History research. Well done Sarah as there's nothing much worse that reading a novel filled with silly errors as the author hasn't done any research. It definitely gives you something to think about in regards to the sacrifices many made during the war, the way people acted during Covid and shows you how much emotion and strength is involved from both Cassie and Ruby as well as their families to move from one place that is warm and bustling to somewhere that is isolated (Cassie) and to decide who you need to protect and what is right and wrong (Ruby) The two stories are woven together perfectly and each of the chapters ended in a way I just HAD to know what was going to happen next!! You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down and it had me in tears by the end and I do not cry easily!!! This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. This book isn't just gorgeous but also incredibly thought provoking and shows so much human emotion and makes you think how easy some people turn on friends and family. I loved that there is so much going on that it completely sucks the reader into the pages from beginning to end. There were so many moments I looked up from the book and had completely forgotten where I was!! I devoured this in one sitting!!

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The characters are strong, realistic and I became completely invested in both Cassie and Ruby along with so many of the other characters involved. I felt each of their pain, heartbreak, betrayal, guilt , anger, sorrow and so much more My heart broke for each of them who went through so much change and more (but I can't say more as I don't want to spoil the storyline for anyone) . Both women were such strong protagonists and being female myself I live seeing strong kick butt women fighting for what they believe in. Although it was mainly through Cassie and Ruby's eyes that the story unfolds there are several many other characters that were affected by all the changes and the emotions charging through the characters and I was completely invested in Noah, Austin, and Badger (Austin's dog), Ned (Austin's sheep), George, Clementine, Edmondo, and many of the other characters who all came to life every time I turned a page. My heart went out to Edmondo, Cassie, Ruby and George, I absolutely loved Ruby, Rosemary, Cassie, Edmondo, Austin, Ned, Badger and Noel and I could not stand Amanda, Stuart, the Anonymous letter writer, and Charles. I won't say anymore about the characters as I don't want to go into too much detail at the risk of spoiling it for other readers but yet again Sarah has done an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life. Well done Sarah !!!

Congratulations Sarah on an absolutely gorgeous, heart-breaking beautiful book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books especially if they are set out like this one is. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite historical author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, thought provoking, addictive and compelling devastatingly beautiful, heart-warming and heart-breaking book!!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Sarah's 'The Lost Letters' which promises to be just as beautiful and addictive as this book and one I'm looking forward to reading myself!

Genres covered in this book include Women's Domestic Life Fiction, Family Life Fiction, Historical World War ll Fiction, Women's Friendship Fiction, Spiritual & Historical Fiction, Women's Writers & Fiction, Women's Contemporary Fiction, Women's Romance Fiction, Romance, Women's Sagas, Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Family Drama, Sagas, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Historical Fiction and Contemporary Romance Fiction and amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley, Barbara O’Neal, Jojo Moyes, Debbie Macomber, Susanne O’Leary, Pamela Kelly, Nancy Thayer. Lorna Cook, Fiona Valpy, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Amanda Prowse, Diane Chamberlain and anyone who loves a page turner.

453 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £10.99 in paperback at time of review, via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio:

Sarah Mitchell grew up in Norfolk and studied law at Cambridge University. She practised as a barrister in London for nearly 20 years before turning to writing. Sarah and her husband now live in beautiful North Norfolk with three almost-grown-up children, an extremely affectionate dog and a horse called Joey. Her debut novel, THE LOST LETTERS, was inspired by her parents' experiences in the Second World War and her desire to explore the heart-breaking impact of the war on women and children. By contrast, THE COUPLE is a dark psychological thriller that twins themes of right and wrong with the age-old complication of an all-consuming past love. Her third novel, THE ENGLISH GIRL is a story inspired by an incredible true love story, a beautiful, sweeping tale of hope, courage and heart-breaking choices. Now, her fourth novel, LETTERS TO A STRANGER, explores themes of love, betrayal and redemption, through the eyes of young Ruby Summers who is forced to make an impossible decision when Italy joins the Second World War and her village turns against the love of her life. https://twitter.com/SarahM_writer Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Sarah Mitchell here: https://www.bookouture.com/sarah-mitchell

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